On 26 January 2026, ahead of the , higher education leaders, students, civil society actors and UN partners convened online to examine how universities can help translate global commitments into locally grounded action.
The virtual side event, moderated by Isabelle Toman, Senior Programme Officer at the (IAU), was organized by UN Academic Impact (UNAI), the , the and IAU. Discussions focused on partnership models advancing the (SDGs) under review at this year’s High-level Political Forum: , , , and .
Closing reflections were delivered by Jayashri Wyatt, Chief of Education Outreach in the UN Department of Global Communications, who emphasized that universities are not only educating future leaders but also helping to deliver the through trust-based, inclusive partnerships.
Higher education in a time of polycrisis
The session opened with a keynote by Nudhara Yusuf, Co-Chair of the Coalition for the UN We Need and Fellow at Princeton University, who described today’s global moment as a “polycrisis” shaped by overlapping political, economic, technological, and climate pressures. She argued that universities must act not only as centres of learning but as civic partners, responding through research, partnerships, and engagement.
Place-based partnerships and community impact
A case study from , UNAI’s SDG 11 Global Hub, illustrated how these principles translate into practice. Mark Charlton, Associate Professor of Sustainable Development and Hub Chair Lead, joined ZamZam Yusuf, Founder and Director of ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities CIC, to present partnership work in Leicester, United Kingdom. Yusuf highlighted how the collaboration was shaped by community priorities and co-designed with underrepresented groups, particularly young people.
Scaling education for sustainable development
The discussion also explored how higher education networks can scale impact across borders. Dr Robert Didham, UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Lifestyles at the University of Inland Norway and representative of the IAU SDG 4 Cluster, shared examples of education for sustainable development extending beyond individual campuses.
Reframing narratives and building capacity
Professor Abel Kinyondo of the University of Dar es Salaam, speaking on behalf of the SDG Academy and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), presented a case study on innovation, infrastructure and energy transitions through a new master’s programme in sustainable development, highlighting the role of locally grounded academic programmes in strengthening policy capacity. In her reflections,
Student voice and democratic participation
Student leadership and democratic participation were also central to the discussion. Jacob Blasius, Executive Director of the , emphasized that access to education and the right of students to speak up are fundamental rights, calling for students to be meaningfully included in decision-making processes that shape sustainable development.
From dialogue to delivery
In her closing remarks, Wyatt linked the discussion directly to the SDG implementation phase, stressing that progress will depend not on declarations alone, but on trusted and inclusive delivery modalities. “The 2030 Agenda will be measured not by words,” she concluded, “but by partnerships that deliver—and higher education must be at the table.”
Watch the full event recording: